Six reasons to tune into IPL 2017

Australia v India rivalry: the next chapter?

Steve Smith says he's fine with Rising Pune Supergiants teammate Ajinkya Rahane; Umesh Yadav insists the bad blood has been left on the Test match arena; and even Virat Kohli has suggested his we're-not-friends-anymore line referenced only a couple of Australian players. But with the IPL following so closely on the heels of a bitterly-fought Border-Gavaskar series, you can expect a fierce edge to any battles involving Australia's and India's Test players. And that could begin as early as game one on Wednesday night: David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Royal Challengers Bangalore – currently sweating on the fitness of Virat Kohli – in a 2016 final re-match.

Ben Stokes is on absurd money

RPS got into a bidding war for Ben Stokes and the outcome was an eye-watering AUD $2.8m for the services of the England allrounder. It's a year ago today that Stokes was pummelled for four straight sixes by West Indian Carlos Brathwaite in an extraordinary conclusion to the World T20 tournament, and the jury is out as to whether Stokes is capable of justifying the price tag. Certainly his T20 International numbers don't make flattering reading: he averages 14 with the bat and 48 with the ball.

Maxi will have the little (c) next to his name

Glenn Maxwell is a superstar in the IPL but perhaps even his most ardent fans would have raised an eyebrow when Kings XI Punjab handed the Australian the captaincy for the season ahead. After last year's bottom-of-the-table finish, there were no shortage of candidates for the role. Many figured India Test opener Murali Vijay would retain the job, and even if not, England's Eoin Morgan, West Indies' Darren Sammy and South Africa's Hashim Amla all have international captaincy experience. But the powers-that-be have put their faith in the Victorian, who is outside-the-box and aggressive as a batsman and could well follow suit as a captain.

Speed thrills at Delhi

Delhi Daredevils have secured the services of two of the most exciting quicks on the planet for the upcoming season in South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and Australia's Pat Cummins. Rabada, still just 21, has been devastating for the Proteas for more than 12 months now, while Cummins, 23, returned to Test cricket against India recently and looks to have lost none of the zip and verve that made him such a revelation when he first broke through five years ago. Throw in India's experienced paceman Mohammad Shami and the Daredevils are looking at perhaps the fastest – and most potent – pace combination in the tournament.

Smith to lead international rivals

Smith has already described himself as one of MS Dhoni's "biggest fans" but with Faf du Plessis, Rahane and Stokes all under his leadership, it will be fascinating to see how the Australian steers the RPS ship. Certainly there has been no shortage of talking points between the Australian and his fellow experienced internationals: Smith invited Rahane and his team for drinks following the fourth Test in Dharamsala, which the stand-in India captain declined; du Plessis felt the ICC was lenient on Smith after his DRS drama in Bengaluru last month; and Stokes, more generally, has been a regular antagonist of the Australians in the past two Ashes series.

Lynn-sanity is back, and he's fit

The Australian half of Brisbane Heat's 'Bash Brothers' is injury-free and ready to fire at Kolkata Knight Riders. If Lynn manages half his destructive deeds from BBL|06 in this year's IPL, he'll be a regular headline-maker. The Queenslander is a six-hitting specialist and as devastating as anyone on his day, but he's yet to truly make his mark in the world's most lucrative T20 tournament. If this is the year it happens, we're in for a show.